Joplin City WIC program announces its 2022 contract
Joplin City WIC has announced that a contract to continue to provide WIC services for federal fiscal year 2022 has been signed with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.
Under the terms of the contract, the Joplin City WIC program will be able to serve 36,667 annually.
Women, Infants and Children (WIC) is a special supplemental nutrition program providing services to pregnant women, new mothers, infants and children up to their 5th birthday based on nutritional risk and income eligibility.
The primary services provided are health screening, risk assessment, nutrition education and counseling, breastfeeding promotion and referrals to health care. Nutritious supplemental food is provided at no cost to participants.
To be eligible for WIC applicants must have an income of less than or equal to 185% of the poverty level http://health.mo.gov/living/families/wic/eligibility_income.php and be determined by a health professional to be at nutritional risk. Migrant families are also eligible.
WIC supplemental food packages are specially chosen to provide foods high in protein, iron, calcium, and vitamins A and C. Eligible women and children receive fortified milk and cheese, eggs, whole grain bread products and hot or cold cereals, 100% fruit juices and fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables. The United States Department of Agriculture, USDA has been able to provide additional funds for fresh or fruits and vegetables on a temporary basis for select months. The WIC program recommends breastfeeding, provides breast-feeding support, baby foods and infant cereal. For women who cannot or choose not to breastfeed, infants may receive supplemental iron fortified formula. WIC participants obtain their foods by redeeming food checks for specific items at local grocery stores and pharmacies.
Studies confirm that pregnant women who enroll in WIC during the early months of pregnancy have fewer low birth weight babies, experience fewer infant deaths, see the doctor earlier in pregnancy and eat healthier.
The Joplin City WIC office hosts Chi Chi Mama’s, a local community Breastfeeding support group. The group meets the first Thursday in the months of February, May and November at 5 p.m. We also host a Community Breastfeeding Celebration in the month of August. To celebrate World Breastfeeding Week and Missouri Breastfeeding Month. For more information, residents may call the WIC office or visit us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/chichimamas.
WIC is administered in Jasper County by Joplin City WIC located at 321 E 4th Street in Joplin and hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Persons interested in applying or who need more information should contact Joplin City WIC at 417-623-1928 choose option 3 or visit our web site at http://www.joplinmo.org/326/WIC.
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.